Display case unit



NOV. 18, 1941. p JAMES 2,262,941

- DISPLAY CASE UNIT Filed May 31, 1941 M I INl/L'NTOE, 97 5 l Rae/r50 H Jaw/5 qr TOPN V6.

Patented Nov. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,262,941 DISPLAY OAS-E UNIT Parker H. James, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application May 31, 1941, Serial No. 396,008

7' Claims.

This invention relates to a combined show and dispensing case wherein a sham is .employed to hold a quantity of merchandise in permanent display and wherein merchandise may be taken from the case from the rear side and from under the sham without disturbing that display.

A primary object of th invention is to provide a unit structure which may be employed in multiples to be positioned side by side on. a counter and in which structure the forward and top side of the unit will consist entirely of a curved sheet of glass without any binding or molding being visible or employed.

A still further primary object. of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simple structure wherein the case unit may be dressed by placing the merchandise in order over the sham; and then a front curved cover glass be positioned thereover to have. its lower end yieldingly engaged and held in a definite fixed position in relation to the sham; and the top rear edge of the.

cover glass left free of any hold down or binding means. Further in this unit case, in reference to the front cover glass, there is employed in conjunction therewith that feature which permits the use of a display board or ticket which may carry the name of the goods, some advertising matter, or simply the unit price of the goods in. the case, this display board serving as a means for preventing accidental lifting of the cover glass. from its rear end.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a view in front perspective of a number of cases embodying the invention and mounted for use on a counter;

Fig. 2, view in similar perspective of an individual case unit with fragments thereof removed;

Fig. 3, a view in rear elevation of a single unit;

Fig. 4, a transverse section on the line 44 in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5, a detail in side elevation on an enlarged scale of the construction of the lower front corner of the case.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a floor III is formed to be rectilinear in shape and. to have turned upwardly from its forward edge a relatively short flange II. From the top edge of this flange II extends rearwardly a tongue" I2, the rear edge of LII the tongue being rounded by fol-ding a marginal portion thereof around under and up against the tongue as best shown in Fig. 5. Side walls l3 and I4 extend upwardly from the floor I0, from the lateral edges thereof. These side walls l3 and I4, when made of metal, may be integral with the floor II) or may be separate members as herein shown to be attached thereby by wall flanges extending under the floor ID to be soldered or welded to the floor. The upper edge of each wall I3 and I4 is curved around'from the forward lower corner of the wall member to the upper rear corner thereof.

Tying these two side walls I3 and I4 together is a sham I5 which has an arcuate floor member spaced inwardly from the curved edges of the walls I3 and I4 as best indicated in Fig. 2. In the present form, this sham I5 is positioned between the side walls I 3 and M to have its lateral edges in abutment with the inner faces of those walls and is secured thereto by any suitable method, such as by soldering or welding. In any event this sham I5 is concentric with the curved edges of the walls I3 and I4.

From the front lower edge of the sham I5 is turned forwardly a floor section I6, Fig. 2, from the front edge of which is turned upwardly a flange II. This floor I6 is spaced above the floor It! a distance which will bring the flange I! substantially at the same elevation as that of the tongue I2. From the upper rear end. of the sham I5 is upturned a wall section l8, and in turn from the top edge of that. section I8 is turned forwardly a flange I9. which is at the same elevation as the top edges of the walls I3 and I4 against which that flange abuts.

A cover glass 20 is formed to have its under face curved to permit the glass to have its lower edge inserted between the tongue I2 and the flange I! to rest on the floor Ill, and then havethe glass in. close contact over the edges of the walls I3 and I4, and the rear top edge of the glass resting on the flange I9- The front flange II is originally turned from the floor ID to have the tongue I2 yieldingly carried toward the flange II, the metal of which the floor Ill and flange II is made having sufl'icient resilience to resist yieldingly bending of the flange I I forwardly. In other words there is suflicient resilience in the floor and front flange members to have the lower portion of the glass 20 yieldingly retained against the flange I] by pressure of the tongue I2 thereagainst.

Normally a closed off compartment is'deflned between the glass 20 and the sham I5 and the side walls I3 and I4. Access to this compartment is had by lifting the glass 20 and disengaging its lower portion from the tongue I2 and flange II. Merchandise may then be arranged over the sham I5, following which the glass 20 may be replaced, as above indicated, to retain that merchandise in position and keep it securely covered. Merchandise of a similar nature to be dispensed is placed within the case to rest on the floor In and under, the sham I5. Access to this merchandise is had. through th rear side of the case, herein shown as being left entirely open.

In order to prevent accidental lifting of the glass 20 at its rear end, and also to provide selective display in relation to the merchandise carried by the case unit, a member 2| has a forwardly extending foot positioned under the rear portion of the sham I and fixed thereto to position:an upturned spring-like member 22 normally along the rear side of the wall section I8, the member 22 being preferably slightly rearwardly turned along its upper marginal portion.

This member 2| thus forms a means to receive and frictionally retain a display card 23 by having the lower portion of that card inserted between the wall section I8 and the member 22, thereby positioning the card along the rear edge of the glass 20 to extend upwardly therefrom but in close proximity to that glass edge since the glass edge is in substantially the same plane as that of the rear face of the wall section I8. Were it not for the card 23, the sales clerk might accidentally reach upwardly and over the case to strike the glass 20 and lift it.

To prevent lateral displacement of the glass 20 in relation to the walls I3 and I4, each wall is provided with a rear upper corner lug 24 and a lower front corner lug 25, the glass 20 preferably being. notched slightly to receive these lugs across the glass notches so that the lateral edges of theglass 20 may be flush with the outer faces of the respective walls I3 and I 4. Then when a number of the cases are placed side by side, as indicated in Fig. 1, the cases may have their adjacent walls in contact so as to leave no spacing betweenthe edges of the cover glasses on the adjacent cases. As indicated in Fig. 1, a plurality of cases made as above described may be placed side by side on the counter 26 which is preferably provided with an upturned ledge 21 against which the respective flanges II of the individual units are positioned to align the caseunits. Furthermore the tongues I2 then extending from the ledge 2'! back into intimate contact with the respective glasses 20 serve as filler pieces to prevent foreign matter from dropping down between the lower marginal portions of the glasses and the ledge2'l. H

While I have herein shown and described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations as may be imposed by the following claims.

I I claim:

1. A case comprising in combination a floor, side wallscarried by the floor and curving from their" front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear corners, a sham mounted between saidlwalls' near their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, 'atongue carried by said floor andyyieldingly directed toward said sham at its lower portion, the lower end portion of said glass cover being releasably inserted back of said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly freely over said sham in spaced relation therefrom.

2. A case comprising in combination a floor, side walls carried by the floor and curving from their front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear corners, a sham mounted between said walls near their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, a tongue carried by said floor and yield ingly directed toward said sham at its lower portion, the lower end portion of said glass cover being releasably inserted back of said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly freely over said sham in spaced relation therefrom, said sham being permanently fixed between said walls, a floor extending from the lower end of said sham forwardly to terminate substantially in line with the wall edges, the sham floor being spaced above the case floor and serving as an abutment for said glass cover against which the glass cover is pressed by saidtongueh 3. A case comprising in combination a floor, side walls carried by the floor and curving from their front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear corners, a sham mounted between said wallsnear their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, a tongue carried by said floor and yieldingly directed toward said sham at its lower por-' tion, the lower end portion of said glass cover beingreleasably inserted back of said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly freely over said sham in spaced relation therefrom, said sham being permanently fixed between said walls, a floor extending from'the lower end of said sham forwardly to terminate substantially in line with the wall edges, the sham. floor being spaced above the case floor and serving asan abutment for said glass cover against which the glass cover is pressed by said tongue, said tongue consisting of a member upturned from the case'floor and then inturned above and over the floor and being spring-like in nature. 4 r

4. A case comprising in combination a floor, side walls carried by the floor and curving from their front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear-corners, a sham mounted between said walls near their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, a tongue carried by said floor and yieldingly directed toward said sham at its lower por-' tion, the lower end portion of saidglass cover being releasably inserted backof said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly 5. A case comprising in combination a floor, side walls carried by the floor and curving from their front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear corners, a sham mounted between said walls near their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, a tongue carried by said floor and yieldingly directed toward said sham at its lower portion, the lower end portion of said glass cover being releasably inserted back of said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly freely over said sham in spaced relation therefrom, said sham being permanently fixed between said walls, a floor extending from the lower end of said sham forwardly to terminate substantially in line with the wall edges, the sham floor being spaced above the case floor and serving as an abutment for said glass cover against which the glass cover is pressed by said tongue, and means carried by said walls for locating said glass cover laterally thereof.

6. Acase comprising in combination a floor, side walls carried by the floor and curving from their front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear corners, a sham mounted between said walls near their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, a tongue carried by said floor and yieldingly directed toward said sham at its lower portion, the lower end portion of said glass cover being releasably inserted back of said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly freely over said sham in spaced relation therefrom, said sham being permanently fixed between said walls, a floor extending from the lower end of said sham forwardly to terminate substantially in line with the wall edges, the sham floor being spaced above the case floor and serving as an abutment for said glass cover against which the glass cover is pressed by said tongue, a wall extending upwardly from the rear upper end of said sham terminating to be in substantial abutment with said glass cover, an upturned clip member along the rear side of said sham rear wall, and a glass cover protecting member frictionally retained between that clip member and said sham wall and extending above the rear edge of said glass cover.

'7. A case comprising in combination a floor, side walls carried by the floor and curving from their front lower corners around upwardly and rearwardly to their tip rear corners, a sham mounted between said walls near their curved edges and spaced inwardly therefrom, a glass cover formed to the contour of said wall curved edges, a tongue carried by said floor and yieldingly directed toward said sham at its lower portion, the lower end portion of said glass cover being releasably inserted back of said tongue to be urged toward said sham thereby, and said glass cover extending upwardly and rearwardly freely over said sham in spaced relation therefrom, said sham being permanently fixed between said walls, a floor extending from the lower end of said sham forwardly to terminate substantially in line with the wall edges, the sham floor being spaced above the case floor and serving as an abutment for said glass cover against which the glass cover is pressed by said tongue, said tongue consisting of a member upturned from the case floor and then inturned above and over the floor and being spring-like in nature, the forward edge of said sham floor being spaced above the case floor and the curvature of said glass cover being such that the lower edge of said cover is in substantial abutment with the said upturned member part of said tongue alon its juncture with the case wall.

PARKER H. JAMES. 

